Grave Desecrator - Sign of Doom (2008)

   Since the mid '90s have been passed, it's quite rare to find references from new bands to the once so unique old school South American scene. New or less known names appearing from time to time in the form of bands who didn't have much attention in their times, but newer formations are another thing. Grave Desecrator is one of the rare exceptions, who have been formed with similar concept.
   The band was mainly influenced by Sarcófago and old Sepultura, and recalls the mixed style of the old scene authentically. The aggressive and compromise-less attitute of "Sign of Doom" matches not only with the tendencies of past times, but it's also not far from war metal. Similar to war metal bands and in analogy with the local traditions, they avoided atmospheric sound, and instead of dark aesthetics, their effectiveness lies in the raw sound and the heaviness of the themes. The main impression is still enough old school to not cross a certain border, and the thrash metal basics are quite evident. This is the source of their never ending intensity, while the ancient black/death metal features are responsible for the heaviness and the brutality. "Sign of Doom" is not only an excellent nostalgia album, but also had refreshing role in the recent extreme underground scene. 

Robot Lords of Tokyo - Whiskey, Blood & Napalm (2008)

   Robot Lords of Tokyo was formed as fan-made project that played mostly cover songs of well known heavy metal bands.
   Even though they've debuted with own songs, it's impossible to not find references to the big names. But since they're just kept playing for fun, and that could be intensively sensed in their music, there's no need to except anything revolutionary new. It's a laid back music that can be imagined as a backbround noise of motorcycle meet ups, or common chilling weekend live entertainment in rock pubs. On the side of the influences of their favorites an intense stoner/southern rock influence is also there in their music. That's easy to relate with the oldies of heavy metal, so we can say that it's a style where it's hard to fail. Simple, groovy themes combined with the catchiest generic heavy metal riffings and solos are always effective because it's easy to go into something nostalgic that reminds to the '80s and '70s, especially if the sound is also updated. Plus it's high party compatibility also can make it as an audience favorite at the right places. Recommended for the fans of stoner and southern rock bands.

Benedictum - Seasons of Tragedy (2008)

   Even though ordinary heavy metal is the most popular/mainstream aspect of metal music, the number of newbies is quite low in this style. That's not only because it's a style that's extremely hard to play good and without ending up as a self-comedy project. But the audience also doesn't seem so opened for new bands.
   The reason that heavy meatal sounds old fashioned nowadays is easy to shoo off, since Benedictum is the living proof how to sound modern while playing like how the oldies of the late '70s/early '80s did. Lately it became a new direction to sound vintage, exactly how the music of the big names sounded in their times, but the sound development left it's mark in Benediction's music. The good production and the clean sound are only the beginning, they were also not afraid to play more intense and occasionally wilder than how heavy metal bands used to be. This might make easier for younger generations to catch the feeling, since all generations having their specific styles and actual directions they can feel to relate to. And while "Seasons of Tragedy" counts definitely as a modern album, there are plenty of nostalgic elements to find on it (it was weird if there wasn't any). The strong '80s feeling is mainly represented in the person of Miss Veronica Freeman, who may remind to the performance of Frau Doro Pesch of Warlock. Not only because of her powerful voice, but the ultimate heavy metal bombshell queen appearance also counts as a reference. In total "Seasons of Tragedy" is a great album, competitive both on the fields of vintage and modern metal.

Eliminator - Breaking the Wheel (2008)

   Before Eliminator caused an intense "WTF?" reaction with their late not really unified experimenting albums, they've recalled the feeling of the '80s with a very nostalgic speed/thrash debut.
   The recipe was exactly the same like 20 years earlier, and even in sound "Breaking the Wheel" may fit well on the side of the most famous Bay Area thrash albums. The difference is that Eliminator's music was more complex and sounded like the speed/thrash bands after many years of routine and development. Extreme speed in themes and solo parts and higher diversity. Blast beats and frequently returning cawing/growling-like vocal pushed their music further to a more aggressive level, so all together the album isn't far to be called as experimenting. Still it keeps staying between the borders of the style. It was almost like a band that probably many old school metal fans were looking for since a while, except... The frequently returning problem with bands who are musically so skilled at the beginning, that they can reproduce the highest quality of a style with no sweat is, that they will probably switch style very soon (like what actually happenned in the case of Eliminator). They're seeking further challenges in progression or/and in experimenting, or just starting to play something more popular if they didn't find the previous style enough profitable. In both cases they're losing most of their audience, so it's like a complete restart for a band.

Sapremia - With Winter Comes Despair (2008)

   Sapremia doesn't count as a newbie band either, since they were formed in the early '90s. During their few years of active period they had 2 demo tapes which were lately released on the compilation album "Subconscious Existence" about decade later, when they have returned.
   On "With Winter Comes Despair" a very mature sounding death metal can be heard, that kept the old school roots, but also shows an example about modern sound. If it's about influences, their music suspects wider range now than in the demo tapes era. Similar melodies that are sometimes returning on the album are more common to find in Finnish death metal, and the song structures are reminding sometimes to the Swedish scene. These features gave an interesting character to their music, and of course the changes that happened meanwhile in the main scene since the early '90s also had some effect on them. This proves that they didn't spend the past decade hiding in a cave in deep isolation, that's somehow impossible to not expect if it's about old bands and musicians, especially if they're keeping their activity and are well-known in metal (it's a paradox, but true).  "With Winter Comes Despair" might be enjoyable for both the fans of the old school and the modern sound of death metal.

Faithxtractor - Razing the World of Myth (2008)

   Faithxtractor formed as an ambitious old school death metal band, and their full-lenght debut served well as a reminder to show what was missing since over a decade long from the main metal scene.
   Their music is an enjoyable re-interpretation of the early '90s death metal, and doesn't sound like a schematic copy of some of their old favorites. So even though the musical influences are clear, they focused more on self-expression than simply recalling something that was heard before. In their case this was represented in the various selection of themes and the tryings to look for further possibilities. The album title shows up in three different songs, and forming together an exciting and diverse whole. It was even better if they were recorded the three as one song, the complexity only had good influence on the main impression. It's clear while listening that it's not a band of young, unexperienced musicians, "Razing the World of Myth" counts as a high quality death metal album. The excellent selection and combination of old school themes, catchy melodies and intensity puts this album close to the modern sound of death metal without reducing the effects of it's early '90s roots. 

Father Befouled - Obscurus Nex Cultus (2008)

   Father Befouled would be in big trouble if they had to prove that they're not Incantation addicted.
   The band plays the most obscure aspect of blasphemous death metal; a noisy, doom influenced and definitely not audience-friendly style, that was first introduced by Incantation. Even the guitar themes (that are lacking melodies completely) and heavy slow downs are strongly referring to their main metal idol, not to mention the deep growling vocal. The difference is that Father Befouled preferred longer lasting and more common slow downs that gave a very intense death/doom impression to the album. This of course didn't make their music easier to go into. The noisy, almost blackened sounding guitars combined with the strong echo effect created an atmosphere that's obscure and horroristic the same way. It's interesting because atmosphere creating is basically not the main purpose of this style, and those who are used to emotional-loaded atmospheric sound, may not even recognize this one. That's because by the lack of melodies it's demoralizing effect starts at the mind by causing brain damage. Their music is mainly recommended for Incantation fans.